Being born with a congenital chronic disease can be one of life's biggest challenges. For many it may become a devastating & disempowering condition, but some very special humans have a way of turning obstacles into opportunities, blessings even.

On this episode Dylan sits down with Ajna Christoffersen, who was born with VACTERL Association Syndrome, a disease that essentially rendered her unable to ingest any foods, have normal bowel & urinary function, breathe with ease,  as well as renal and cardiac capacity & more. 

However, while managing on a daily basis her wavering physical health, undergoing 50+ surgeries and 150+ hospital admissions, Ajna still managed to turn the tables on life and use the cards she was dealt with to become an internationally renowned runway model, disability advocate and motivational speaker. 

If you are looking for inspiration on how to look at life through a different lens, and how to turn obstacles into opportunities for growth & service, as well as how to put your skills & passions to service humanity as a whole, this episode is for you. 

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
🌹 Being Born with VACTERL Association Syndrome
🌹 Anja’s Early Life Struggles With This Condition
🌹 Views On The Allopathic Medical System & Alternative Therapies
🌹 Chronic Diseases: Acceptance vs. Striving To Heal
🌹 Finding Empowerment Through Life's Challenges
🌹 Becoming An International Runway Model & Walking Amsterdam Fashion Week
🌹 Writing A Book & Becoming a Spokesperson For The Disabled

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Ajna Christoffersen

Anja Christoffersen is a woman of many roles; an international model, author, motivational speaker, disability advocate and entrepreneur – with her story showcased in media around the world. 

Anja has a life-long, congenital disability - VACTERL - that sparked a passion to improve equity and quality of life for others facing disability and chronic illness. 

She is the Founder and Executive Director of Champion Health Agency - a world-first 'lived experience talent agency' representing people with disability, chronic illness and carers to access meaningful opportunities to create positive change based on their lived experience. 

It was Anja’s sharing of her story that propelled her career in motivational speaking, advocacy and consumer advisory. Anja has presented about her disability, incontinence and overcoming obstacles and adversity in big & small platforms all around the world.

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Living life in alignment with our dharma means every action we take in life is in accordance with the most evolutionary thing we can be doing in any given movement.

In fact, Ayurvedic medicine is the Science of Life to not only live with maximum health, but also to to live with the four main attributes of human fulfilment (“chat puruṣa“):
1. Artha - Infinite abundance
2. Kama - Absolute presence with richness of life
3. Mokṣa - Freedom and liberation
4. and… (this is the first one)… DHARMA - Living a truely purposeful life performing the most evolutionary actions in any given moment in order to uplift and interact with society successfully for greater harmony.

On this episode we had the pleasure of sitting down with Kute Blackson, a world renowned best-selling author and motivational speaker, who with immense eloquence and grace breaks down key principles to live life in a more joyous, impactful and “dharmic” manner. 

By the early age of 8 years old Kute was already speaking to congregations of hundreds of people at his fathers churches across West Africa. 
Later in life he decided it was time to leave his mother land and travel the world to learn from spiritual masters of various different wisdom traditions.

Nowadays he is an accomplished, wise and kind-hearted motivational speaker & best-selling author.

Believe us, Kute's life story and potent teachings will stick with you even long after you finish listening to this fantastic episode.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
✊ Being Raised As A Spiritual Healer, Preacher & Leader
✊ Moving To The USA, And Traveling The World In The Pursuit Of Greater Spiritual Mastery
✊ Living In Alignment With One’s True Purpose Or “Dharma”
✊ How To Forgive & Find Peace In Seamingly Broken Relationships
✊ Healing Our Own Trauma
✊ How To Embody A State Of Blissful Surrender

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Kute Blackson
Kute Blackson is the son of a revered spiritual leader and healer from West Africa.

By the age of eight, Kute was speaking to his father’s congregations of hundreds of people, in more than 300 churches.

At the age of 14, he was ordained into his father’s ministry preparing to carry on his father’s spiritual legacy.

But his heart drew him and his soul called him to another path: America.

Today, Kute Blackson is a beloved inspirational speaker and transformational teacher.

He is author of the national bestselling book You.Are.The.One. and The Magic of Surrender. He is widely considered the next generation leader in the field of personal development.

His mission is simple: To awaken and inspire people across the planet to access inner freedom, live authentically and fulfil their true life’s purpose.

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Indigenous knowledge loss and a disproportionate mistrust for wild produce has given way for a society of disconnected living. 

We no longer know the names of the plants living on our doorsteps; we distrust and dismiss some of the most important food and medicine plants that have always walked with us as our co-evolutionary species.

But let me tell you, food is literally all around you. You probably have PLENTY of highly nutritious and life-force rich foods growing within 3 meters of where you are right now.

To tell the story of plants is Diego Bonetto’s passion, and in this episode he very eloquently shares some of the rich and inspiring foraging wisdom he has accumulated over several decades of reverently communing with nature. 

Popularly known as “The Weedy One”, Diego has developed a beautiful reciprocal loving relationship with weeds and wild flora in general, which is truly palpable and contagious. 

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
🥬 The Many Benefits of Foraging Food
🥬 Broadening Our Food-Source Spectrum
🥬 Leaving According To The Seasons
🥬 How To Begin Foraging
🥬 Foraging As A Way Of Life & Facilitating A Greater Communion With Nature
🥬 How To Forage Sustainably, Safely & Respectfully
🥬 Foraging And Managing Potential Toxicity of The Land

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Diego Bonetto

Diego Bonetto grew up on a dairy farm in northern Italy when it was still common practice to collect the wild produce of the land. 

He learned this ancient craft of gathering from the fields and woods while caring for resources.
Diego moved to Australia in the mid 90s where he spent many years working in orchards and garden centres. 

Diego runs public and private workshops every week and collaborates extensively with chefs, herbalists, environmentalists and cultural workers and has been featured in a substantial amount of media.

His bestselling book, EAT WEEDS, A field guide to foraging, has been released in 2022

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Light Watkins has been living a minimalist lifestyle for 4 years, living from a backpack, and has found this to be one way to enhance his spiritual evolution. 

Light is a renowned Vedic Meditation teacher, bestselling author and keynote speaker who is now integrating Spiritual Minimalism into his life and teachings.

The Spiritual Minimalist approach differs from “mainstream minimalism” and creates impactful positive change in our communities and the world at large. 

You’ll hear about the backpack that Light has been living from for the past few years, and get a peek into the minimalist lifestyle he embraces.

This episode is filled with insightful and rich wisdom, where simplicity meets abundance, and deeper contentment is found in the smallest of places.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
🧘 Exercise As An Essential Component Of The Daily Routine
🧘 Spiritual Minimalism 
🧘 Inner Guidance & How To Reconnect With Our Purpose In Life
🧘 How To Fit Inner-Work Into Our Busy Daily Routines
🧘 Meditation & Inspiring Change In The World

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Light Watkins

Light Watkins is a bestselling author, an accomplished meditation teacher, founder of The Shine Movement, and an inspirational keynote speaker and workshop leader. He has delivered over 500 wellness-themed talks around the globe since 2007.

He also has been living out of a backpack for the past few years and is a nomadic. You wouldn’t know it.

But there are lessons to learn from these practices and minimalist philosophy.

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Unpack and process Ayurvedic algorithms in order to apply them to modern actions like drinking coffee and alcohol, GMO food production and breathing exercises (pranayama).

Dr Sumit K. in fact is researching and applying the medicinal benefits of coffee and single-malt whisky. 

For those who want to drink coffee and alcohol, this episode may guide you to refine your relationship with consuming substances. 

Dr Sumit also frequently hikes ruthless pilgrimages into the high Himālayas in search for Ayurvedic herbs, ancient village healers and to commune with the Vedic Energy of Lord Shiva: that Absolute untouched Silence and force of nature which removes irrelevancy.  

This episode decodes some of Ayurveda’s teachings around substances, the six tastes, and other more occult & rare Vedic technologies.

After all, according to Ayurveda, EVERYTHING in the universe can be medicine when you know how to transform that substance.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
🔱 The Six Tastes & How To Start The Day
🔱 The Ayurvedic Properties of Coffee
🔱 Re-Understanding The Six ‘Rasas’ (Tastes) In Ayurveda
🔱 Chai (Tea) Under The Lense of Ayurveda
🔱 Lord Shiva: The Destruction Operator in The Vedic Tradition
🔱 Rāvaṇa Tantra & Shivaite Philosophy

ABOUT OUR GUEST: DR SUMIT KESARKAR

Vaidya and the founder of the 'National Library of Ayurveda Medicine (NLAM)', a searchable online repository of ancient Āyurvedic formulations and study modules.

You’ll often find Dr Sumit journeying across India working towards the conservation of medicinal plants, local health traditions and ancient Hatha Yoga practices. 

It is his firm belief that the arcane secrets of the Vedas, Tantra and Yoga should be accessible to all and he continually tryies to demystify them for bite-sized consumption

In simplifying and decoding Vedic Sciences, he also teaches his students to practically apply them conjunct with modern-day methodologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in developing sophisticated systems.

Dr Sumit has explained the health benefits of single malt whisky by experimentation and application of Ayurvedic Algorithms.

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Are you interested in studying Ayurveda? Do you want to integrate Ayurvedic wisdom and healing techniques into your offerings as a practitioner of any sort?

Or do you want to deepen your understanding and learn about this “Mother of Medicines” for yourself, family or friends.

Perhaps you are curious, and whenever you immerse in potent Vedic wisdom, it lights up your heart.

Well, if you feel a yes to these questions, this podcast episode is designed for you!

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
📿 Becoming a Student of The Veda
📿 Starting The Intellectual Journey
📿 Cautions For The Student

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Mantras are sound vibrations that harness the subtle energies of this creation.

When used in a proper way that considers the various influences that come from our local environment and beyond, the mantras can help improve different areas of life.

Sound vibrations can create and support profound and positive changes in our own physiology, those around us, the wider community and society.

Join Swami Purnachaitanya, who for over 15 years has been studying and teaching the Science of Mantras to harness specific sound vibrations to interact with Natural Law for greater evolution. Swamiji offers expert advice to utilise the power and sacredness of sound safely and effectively.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
📿 The Meaning Of The Phrase "Jai Guru Deva"
📿 The Meaning Of The Name "Purnachaitanya"
📿 The Four Stages Of Life According To Vedic Tradition
📿 What Does Being A “Swami” Really Mean
📿 What Is A Mantra According To Vedic Tradition
📿 The Power Of Japa (a.k.a. Mantra Repetition)
📿 Developing Siddhis (Superhuman Capabilities) By Means of Mantra Repetition
📿 The Influence of The Gunas (Qualities) On Your Mantra Practice
📿 Tips To Properly Do Japa
📿 Quantity vs. Quality in Japa
📿 The Number 108 In The Vedas
📿 Teaching Vedic Wisdom On A Large Scale

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Swami Purnachaitanya

Born and brought up in the Netherlands, Swami Purnachaitanya from a young age had a keen interest in the spiritual practices, cultures and philosophies of the East.

As a teenager he met his spiritual Master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and started his journey to explore the traditions of yoga, meditation, mantras and ancient wisdom.

A life dedicated to purity of knowledge, practice and experience, sharing his Master’s wisdom through the programs of The Art of Living.

Swami Purnachaitanya has become a public figure traveling the world extensively in Asia, Africa and Europe, conducting a wide range of self-development programs in over 20 countries. His relevance stems from his ability to bridge the philosophies of the East and the West and his skill in simplifying arcane concepts. He plays the role of spiritual guide, peace builder, story teller, author, healer and teacher, as he triggers dramatic change in the lives of his audience.

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What a year of interviews (and solo shows) on the topics of health, consciousness, and natural law, aka “The Veda”.

In this episode I give a brief summary of my personal top 3 favourite episodes of 2022, and the wisdom that was shared by experts in their fields.

Plus, I list a few extra episodes that nearly made the cut, in honour of these high-class interviews.

I also give a sneak synopsis preview of the AWESOME interviews yet to be released in 2023, some very special ways to learn and study authentic Ayurveda in 2023, as well as Your (our audience’s) most listened to podcast episodes of 2022.

So if you are not a die-hard who has listened to every episode of the VV Podcast, this episode is a great way to be directed to the best episodes of 2022, as a starting point of course to the portal of wisdom within the Vital Veda Podcast archives.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
🌿 3 Episodes that nearly made the top 3
🌿 Dylan’s (Personal) Top 3 Episodes of 2022
🌿 3 Most Listened to Episodes By You, the Audience

LINKS TO ALL MENTIONED EPISODES: (These episodes are not listed in a specific order)
🎧 "Creating Your Own Reality & Reprogramming the Subconscious Mind" with Bruce Lipton #081
🎧 "Homeopathic Immunisation for Babies & Children" with Dr Isaac Golden, World Authority on Homeopathic Immunisation #092
🎧 "Hollywood to the Himalayas: Deeper Connections & Euphoric Love" with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati #083
🎧 "The Ayurvedic Daily Routine, Guru & Spirituality" with Vaidya Aditya Raju #089
🎧 "Healing Mental Health Epidemics & Eating Disorders w/ the World’s Largest Love-Based Movement in Human History" with Nicole Gibson #100
🎧 "Tantric Sex: Deep Love Making Beyond Conventional Sex" with Diana Richardson #077
🎧 "Vedic Astrology Forecast 2022 + Great Truths of Light (Jyotish)" with Laura Plumb #076
🎧 "Mudra: The Sacred Secret to Draw Energy & Bliss From Within" with Indu Arora #087

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Nicole Gibson has a vision to facilitate the world’s largest love-based movement in human history.

After healing from a life-threatening experience of anorexia nervosa, Nicole began to become an unstoppable messenger of love and human potential.

She was a finalist for the Young Australian of the Year at 20 years old, listed as one of Australia’s top 100 most influential women at 21 and became the the youngest Commonwealth Commissioner for Mental Health leading a $37 billion budget in an attempt to rectify the mental health epidemic.

It’s time we stop seeing love as a romanticised cliche, and begin to harness it’s true power to transform, heal and create.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
🧡 A Spiritual Understanding of The Idea Of “Love”
🧡 Re-contextualising Love Beyond Cliches
🧡 Nicole’s Empowering Life Story
🧡 Self-Love As a Pre-Requisite To Love Others
🧡 Love & Pain
🧡 Love For The Divine
🧡 Setting The Foundations For The ‘Love Out Loud’ Movement
🧡 Her Three Terms As The Youngest Commonwealth Commissioner for Mental Health
🧡 Starting The ‘Love Out Loud’ Movement
🧡 The Future Of Love Out Loud: Love-Centered Technology 
🧡 Healing From Eating Disorders & Addictions
🧡 Embodying Pure Love & Learning To Surrender

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Nicole Gibson

Known as a multi-award winning social entrepreneur, but she prefers to see herself as an unstoppable messenger of love and human potential.

When Nicole was 18 years old, she established a Not-for-Profit and grew it to sustainability, while completing two National speaking tours.

NIcole was a finalist for the Young Australian of the Year at 20 years old, and listed as one of Australia’s top 100 most influential women at 21, shortly after taking out the Pride of Australia Medal.

She’s made the front cover of The Financial Review, the Yellow Pages and featured in a documentary aired on prime-time national television.

Nicole is a fierce ambassador for mental health, innovation and connection after recovering from her own terrifying lived experience with anorexia nervosa.

Nicole completed three terms as the youngest Commonwealth Commissioner for Mental Health.

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A must listen for every human! Especially if you are going to birth a son in the near future.

Circumcision is the most popular medical surgery in USA today. But somehow it got to the point of it being performed for health reasons more that religious reasons. However, the claimed “health benefits” are based on flawed science, and in contrast, circumcision has alarming health and traumatic dangers.

But is there valuable ancient wisdom based in this rite of passage that religious and indigenous cultures have been performing for centuries?

Or has the essence of these rite of passages been misunderstood?

Is circumcision a violation of human rights? or are parents confidently making responsible and informed decisions?

Our guest, filmmaker, public speaker and very passionate and active man, Brendon Marotta, made an award winning film: American circumcision, which presents science and opinions from both sides of the decision - to circumcise or not.  

The film presents religious leaders, doctors, lawyers and human rights spokespeople on both sides.

This is one of the most important podcast episodes on the Vital Veda Show, as the act of circumcising or not is a highly influential non-reversible act.

IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
🔪 When, Why & How Was Circumcision Introduced As An Allopathic Medical Intervention
🔪 Circumcision Trauma in Children & Adults
🔪 Circumcision As An Ancient Practice In Africa
🔪 Circumcision According To Judaism and Christianity
🔪 The Impact Of Circumcision In Sexual Pleasure
🔪 Working Through Any Circumcision-Related Trauma

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Brendon Marotta
Brendon Marotta is a filmmaker, author, podcaster, public speaker, and father.

His last film, American Circumcision, won multiple awards and played on Netflix.

He is the author of The Intactivist Guidebook,  The Haunting of Bob Cratchit, and Children’s Justice. He has spoken at Yale University, the International Conference on Men’s Issues, the International Symposium on Genital Autonomy and Children’s Right’s, and the Association for Pre and Perinatal Psychology. Brendon hosts a regular podcast called The Brendon Marotta Show. He currently lives with his family in Austin, TX.

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